KUALA LANGAT: Kampung Jenjarom resident Salmiah Parita is used to having her two grandchildren at her home during weekends.
However, that has changed over the last few months as the 63-year-old grandmother has advised them against visiting her, due to pollution believed to be caused by a battery manufacturing factory in Jalan Sukepi in the Jenjarom Industrial Area.
“I miss having my grandchildren at my house, but what can I do?
“I do not want them to be exposed to the pollution. The air is no longer clean here due to the lead fumes, and the soil has become more acidic.
“It is no longer safe for them to play around here anymore.
“Instead of them coming over, I now make the more than one-hour journey to their house in Puncak Alam. It is much better there,” said Salmiah, who was born and raised in Jenjarom.
She added that she was not only feeling the heartache of missing her grandchildren, but had also been experiencing poor health since the factory began its operations.
Salmiah said the land where the factory is located was vacant previously and its construction began in 2011.
With her house located less than 100m away from the factory, Salmiah said she was confident that it had complied with the rules and regulations.
“Since the water, land and air was polluted, my health has deteriorated.
“I have been suffering from prolonged coughs, flu and fever. My throat is sore.
“Even my husband, Saad Chek, has been feeling unwell of late.
“The authorities must ensure the factory is closed and moved elsewhere. Our health is at great risk,” said Salmiah.
Echoing Salmiah was her neighbour, Dahlia Tahiri, 56, who was also concerned as she had also been having coughing bouts lately.
“I am more worried about the health and wellbeing of children who attend Tadika Hidayatul Ummi and SMK Jenjarom. Both are located less than 300 metres from the factory.
“I have asked my grandchildren, aged 5 and 3, to refrain from playing near the drains and in the soil at our home as it may be contaminated.
“I have also told them to stay indoors because of the polluted air,” she added.
Dahlia said the Selangor state government should ensure that the factory was shut down and not allowed to operate in other states.
Salmiah and Dahlia were part of a 100-strong crowd who held a peaceful protest in front of the factory in Jalan Sukepi.
Led by village representative Nazri Afrizal, the villagers held placards that read “Say No to Lead Poisoning” and “We are not Lab Rats”.
Nazri expressed his disappointment over not being allowed to meet Selangor exco for Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Hee Loy Sian and factory representatives.
“I do not know why I was barred because all I wanted to do was share my views and the worries of some 6,000 kampung folk here.
“The laws require a buffer zone of 500m between a chemical factory and a residential area, but this was clearly not adhered too. The two schools are just 200m away.
“The factory should cease operations immediately as it had admitted in a dialogue recently, to not have a proper drainage system in its premises.
“We do not want the younger generation to be affected.
“The health risks and side effects cannot be seen now. It takes time and we have to act fast,” he added.
Nazri also handed a petition signed by more than 100 residents calling for the factory’s approval to be reviewed and its premises to be moved to a heavy industrial zone.
Kuala Langat Environmental Action Group member Pua Lay Peng said water samples taken from the drains in front of the factory had lead content that was almost five times higher than the acceptable limit of 0.5 parts per million (PPM).
She urged the Environment Department to immediately implement measures to prevent further contanimation of groundwater.